Field of the Invention

[0001 ] The present invention relates to a headrest for attachment to a stretcher, chair, or other mobile patient transport apparatus for use in a surgical environment.

Background to the Invention

[0002] A variety of surgical procedures are done on a patient’s head, including eye surgery, ear-nose-and-throat surgery, facial surgery and reconstructive surgery. In many cases such procedures are relatively quick. Typically, a patient is positioned on a mobile support such as a stretcher or mobile chair, and the mobile support is moved from a pre-op environment, to surgery, to a post-op environment with the patient remaining supported.

[0003] It is important that the patient’s head is securely supported during surgery at an optimum angle for the surgeon performing the procedure. This angle will vary depending on the nature on the surgery, the particular patient, and the preferences of the particular surgeon. It is therefore desirable to provide a support for a patient’s head which is adjustable.

[0004] The applicant is aware of some adjustable headrests being employed in mobile supports. These generally fall into two categories: threaded adjustment where knobs are provided to wind the headrest into a desired position, and cable adjustment using frictional locks. Some mechanisms can provide a platform which is not sufficiently stable for delicate procedures. Moreover, they are subject to wear which can lead to slippage and potential injury to the patient.

[0005] Adjustment of such headrests is a manual procedure, requiring physical interaction between a surgeon or assistant and the adjustment mechanism. This can present problems both for access to controls and the possibility of contamination of sterile environments. [0006] A further disadvantage of known adjustable headrests is that pivot points of the headrest, such as the connection to a backrest, often requires a gap. This means that liquids such as antiseptic solutions are prone to drain into the gap and into the mechanism of the adjustable headrest.

[0007] The present invention has been devised in light of these issues.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a headrest for a mobile patient transport apparatus, the mobile patient transport apparatus having a backrest, the headrest including a neck supporting portion which is hinged to the backrest and a head supporting portion which is hinged to the neck supporting portion, the neck supporting portion having a frame connected to a first actuator and the head supporting portion having a frame connected to a second actuator, whereby the first and second actuators can be independently operated to cause pivoting of the neck supporting portion relative to the backrest and/or pivoting of the head supporting portion relative to the neck supporting portion.

[0009] It is preferred that each actuator includes a connecting rod arranged for axial movement. The connecting rod may be arranged to engage with a motor via a linear actuator. In a preferred embodiment, the linear actuator is a worm drive. Advantageously, this provides a high degree of rigidity when the worm drive is stopped. The motor is preferably an electric motor.

[0010] Advantageously, the motors and linear actuators have a continuous range of movement allowing for positioning of the head supporting portion and neck supporting portion in any desired position, and allowing for incremental adjustments.

[0011 ] It will be appreciated that the headrest may have two electric motors each of which can be operated independently, each motor being associated with a respective actuator. It is preferred that the motors are positioned beneath the backrest of the mobile patient transport apparatus. [0012] It is preferred that the headrest is contiguous. Preferably, the headrest is formed from a single piece, with the neck supporting portion and head supporting portion being connected at a flexure formed by narrowing of the material from which the headrest is made. Advantageously, this eliminates gaps in the surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings:

[0014] Figure 1 is an upper perspective of a headrest in accordance with the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 is a side view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in a flat configuration;

[0016] Figure 3 is a cut-away side view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the flat configuration of Figure 2;

[0017] Figure 4 is an under view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the flat configuration of Figure 2;

[0018] Figure 5 is a cut-away under view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the flat configuration of Figure 2;

[0019] Figure 6 is a cut-away under perspective of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the flat configuration of Figure 2;

[0020] Figure 7 is a cut-away under view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in a lowered configuration; [0021 ] Figure 8 is a side view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the lowered configuration of Figure 7;

[0022] Figure 9 is a cut-away side view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the lowered configuration of Figure 7;

[0023] Figure 10 is a cut-away under view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in a raised configuration;

[0024] Figure 11 is a side view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the raised configuration of Figure 10;

[0025] Figure 12 is a cut-away side view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the raised configuration of Figure 10;

[0026] Figure 13 is a cut-away under view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in a “neck down head up” configuration;

[0027] Figure 14 is a side view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the “neck down head up” configuration of Figure 13;

[0028] Figure 15 is a cut-away side view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the “neck down head up” configuration of Figure 13;

[0029] Figure 16 is a cut-away under view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in a “neck up head down” configuration;

[0030] Figure 17 is a side view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the “neck up head down” configuration of Figure 16; and

[0031 ] Figure 18 is a cut-away side view of the headrest of Figure 1 shown in the “neck up head down” configuration of Figure 16. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0032] Referring to the Figures, Figure 1 shows a headrest 10 which is connected to the backrest 12 of a mobile patient transport apparatus (not shown). The headrest 10 is divided into two portions: a neck supporting portion 14 and a head supporting portion 16.

[0033] The headrest 10 and backrest 12 are moulded in a single contiguous piece of plastic. The neck supporting portion 14 is connected to the backrest 12 along an inner flexure 18 which is formed by a thinning of the plastic in a line oriented in a transverse direction. The head supporting portion 16 is connected to the neck supporting portion 14 along an outer flexure 20 which is formed by a thinning of the plastic in a line parallel to the inner flexure 18. In the embodiment of the drawings the neck supporting portion 14, the head supporting portion 16, the inner flexure 18 and the outer flexure 20 all have the same width. The head supporting portion 16 has a length about four times that of the neck supporting portion 14. It will be appreciated that other shapes of the neck supporting portion 14 and head supporting portion 16 are possible.

[0034] Each of the neck supporting portion 14 and the head supporting portion 16 has a supporting frame located on an underside thereof. The frame underneath the neck supporting portion 14 has a cross member 22 oriented in the transverse direction, which is fixed to two side members 24. The two side members 24 are arranged to rotate about a transverse hinge 26 which is located generally beneath the inner flexure 18.

[0035] Similarly, the frame underneath the head supporting portion 16 has a cross member 28 oriented in the transverse direction, which is fixed to two side members 30. The two side members 30 are arranged to rotate relative to the side members 24 of the neck supporting portion 14. This rotation is about a transverse hinge 32 which is located generally beneath the outer flexure 20. The transverse hinge 32 passes through aligned apertures of the side members 24, 30 of both the neck supporting portion 14 and head supporting portion 16. [0036] A first electric motor 34 is located beneath the backrest 12. The first electric motor 34 has a laterally extending piston 36 at an outer end thereof. The laterally extending piston 36 is connected to the first electric motor 34 by a worm drive arrangement (not shown). The arrangement is such that a controller (not shown) can be used to actuate the first electric motor 34 and to move the laterally extending piston 36 in an axial direction as desired. When the first electric motor 34 is not actuated then the laterally extending piston 36 is held in a fixed axial position.

[0037] The laterally extending piston 36 has a first connecting rod 38 fixed thereto, extending away from the laterally extending piston 36 in the axial direction. A second connecting rod 40 extends from the first connecting rod 38 to the cross member 22 of the neck supporting portion 14. The first connecting rod 38 is pinned to both the piston 36 and the second connecting rod 40, and is able to pivot relative to both the piston 36 and the second connecting rod 40. The second connecting rod 40 is rigidly fixed to the cross member 22 of the neck supporting portion 14.

[0038] The arrangement is such that axial movement of the laterally extending piston 36 causes axial movement of the first connecting rod 38. The rigid connection of the second connecting rod 40 to the supporting frame of the neck portion means that this axial movement results in rotation of the neck supporting portion 14 about the transverse hinge 26 and corresponding bending of the inner flexure 18.

[0039] A second electric motor 42 is located beneath the backrest 12, alongside and parallel to the first electric motor 34. It has a laterally extending piston 44 which operates in a similar fashion to the laterally extending piston 36 of the first electric motor 34. A third connecting rod 46 extends away from the laterally extending piston 44 of the second electric motor 42, with an outer end being pinned to a support arm 48. The support arm 48 is pinned in turn to the transverse hinge 26. [0040] A fourth connecting rod 50 extends from the support arm 48 in a direction generally away from the third connecting rod 46. A fifth connecting rod 52 extends from the fourth connecting rod 50 to the cross member 28 of the head supporting portion 16.

[0041] The third connecting rod 46 is pinned to both the piston 44 and the fourth connecting rod 50, and is able to pivot relative to both the piston 44 and the fourth connecting rod 50. The fifth connecting rod 52 is pinned to the fourth connecting rod 50, and is able to pivot relative to the fourth connecting rod 50. The fifth connecting rod 52 is rigidly fixed to the cross member 28 of the head supporting portion 16.

[0042] The arrangement is such that axial movement of the laterally extending piston 44 causes axial movement of the third connecting rod 46. This causes rotation of the support arm 48 about the transverse hinge 26. This, in turn causes axial movement of the fourth connecting rod 50. The rigid connection of the fifth connecting rod 52 to the supporting frame of the head supporting portion 16 means that this axial movement results in rotation of the head supporting portion 16 about the transverse hinge 32 and corresponding bending of the outer flexure 20.

[0043] Use of the first and second electric motors 34, 42 will be described with reference to the Figures.

[0044] Figures 1 to 6 show a position where the neck supporting portion 14 and the head supporting portion 16 are generally aligned with the backrest 12.

[0045] If the first electric motor 34 is operated to reduce the length of the laterally extending piston 36, then the neck supporting portion 14 will pivot about the transverse hinge 26, causing the inner flexure 18 to bend in a downward direction relative to the backrest 12. Similarly, if the second electric motor 42 is operated to reduce the length of the laterally extending piston 44 then the head supporting portion 16 will pivot about the transverse hinge 32, causing the outer flexure 20 to bend in a downward direction relative to the neck supporting portion 14. This is shown in Figures 7 to 9.

[0046] If the first electric motor 34 is operated to increase the length of the laterally extending piston 36, then the neck supporting portion 14 will pivot about the transverse hinge 26, causing the inner flexure 18 to bend in an upward direction relative to the backrest 12. Similarly, if the second electric motor 42 is operated to increase the length of the laterally extending piston 44 then the head supporting portion 16 will pivot about the transverse hinge 32, causing the outer flexure 20 to bend in an upward direction relative to the neck supporting portion 14. This is shown in Figures 10 to 12.

[0047] If the first electric motor is operated to decrease the length of the laterally extending piston 36, and the second electric motor 42 is operated to increase the length of the laterally extending piston 44, then the headrest 10 will assume a position wherein the neck supporting portion 14 is angled downwardly relative to the backrest 12 and the head supporting portion 16 is angled upwardly relative to the neck supporting portion 14. This is shown in Figures 13 to 15.

[0048] Conversely, if the first electric motor 34 is operated to increase the length of the laterally extending piston 36, and the second electric motor 42 is operated to decrease the length of the laterally extending piston 44, then the headrest 10 will assume a position wherein the neck supporting portion 14 is angled upwardly relative to the backrest 12 and the head supporting portion 16 is angled downwardly relative to the neck supporting portion 14. This is shown in Figures 16 to 19.

[0049] It will be appreciated that the Figures show examples of the positions which can be achieved by the headrest 10, but that these examples are not limiting. The headrest 10 can achieve any position within its limits of movement. [0050] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.